Bottle transfer device

ABSTRACT

A device and a system for transferring viscous fluid between a first bottle and a second bottle may be provided. The device and system may comprise a first cap having a first internal thread and a first channel extending through the first cap and a second cap having a second internal thread and a second channel extending through the second cap. The first cap and the second cap may be coupled to one another, and the first channel may be fluidly connected with the second channel.

PRIORITY

This non-provisional application claims priority to Provisional U.S.Patent Application Ser. No. 61/853,048 filed Mar. 27, 2013.

BACKGROUND

In many instances, a person, trying to remove the last vestiges of aviscous liquid from a fluid-containing bottle, experiences onlyfrustration for his or her efforts. When this scenario is repeated againand again by a large number of consumers, a big waste of money andresources can result. There is a need for a low cost device which onecan easily use to empty the entire contents of the bottle.

Thus, there is a need for a device with which one can transfer virtually100 percent of the residual contents of a fluid-containing bottle fromit to another bottle so that the residual fluid can be collected in thelatter vessel and stored therein for subsequent consumption at theuser's convenience. Moreover, there is a need for a device that mayquickly and easily couple to one or more bottles to facilitate transferof fluid between the bottles.

SUMMARY

In one exemplary embodiment, a device for transferring fluid may beprovided. The transferring device may include a first cap member havinga first internal thread and a first channel extending through the firstcap member, and a second cap member having a second internal thread anda second channel extending through the second cap member. The first capmember and the second cap member may be coupled to one another, and thefirst channel may be fluidly connected with the second channel.

In another exemplary embodiment, a system for transferring fluid from afirst bottle to a second bottle may be provided. The system may includea first cap member having a first internal thread and a first channelextending through the first cap member, and a second cap member having asecond internal thread and a second channel extending through the secondcap member. The system may further include a first bottle having a firstinterior chamber and a second bottle having a second interior chamber.The first cap member and the second cap member may be coupled to oneanother, and the first channel may be fluidly connected with the secondchannel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. Thefollowing detailed description should be considered in conjunction withthe accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the transfer device fluidlyconnected to two bottles, one of which is inverted above the other, asthe device is being used to drain the contents of the inverted bottleinto the upright bottle.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary view of the first and second screw-on capswhich, in assembled relation, are coupled together in the transferdevice embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary top perspective view of another embodiment ofthe transfer device.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary top perspective view of the FIG. 4 embodimentof the transfer device in which a portion thereof has been cut away.

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary cross-sectional view of the FIG. 4 embodimentof the transfer device being installed onto a bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the followingdescription and related figures directed to specific embodiments of theinvention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternateembodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or thescope of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplaryembodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will beomitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example,instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are notlimiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood thatthe described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms“embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do notrequire that all embodiments of the invention include the discussedfeature, advantage or mode of operation.

Exemplary FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an exemplary transfer device that isindicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

The transfer device 10 may have a structure that defines a pair ofoppositely directed, screw thread sets that are aligned axially andbetween which a through channel 13 may extend longitudinally along therespective axis of each such set. Further, each individual screw threadset may be sized and threaded to threadedly engage a bottle 1, 2.

These screw thread sets may be provided by two screw-on caps 11 and 12which may be welded, glued, or otherwise coupled together. The transferdevice 10 may alternatively be formed integrally as a single, unitarypiece fabricated of plastic or the like. Each of the caps 11, 12 mayhave a cylindrical body having an interior surface upon which therespective thread set is disposed. Each of the caps 11, 12 may furthercomprise an opening configured to receive a portion of a bottle at oneend of the cylindrical body, and a top portion disposed at the oppositeend of the cylindrical body. The first and second caps 11, 12 may becoupled or formed integrally together such that the top portion of thefirst cap 11 is directly affixed to the top portion of the second cap12. A bore through the interface between the caps 11, 12 so affixed maycomplete the through channel 13, so that gravity can be used to transferfluid from an inverted bottle 2 into an upright bottle 1.

Prior to use, the cap 11 of the transfer device 10 may be first screwedonto the bottle 1, and then cap 12 may be screwed onto bottle 2. Thelatter step may entail rotating bottle 2 relative to the transfer device10. A user may place bottle 1, once it has been threadedly engaged withcap 11, in a generally horizontal position in order to keep fluid fromdraining out of bottle 2 prematurely—that is, prior to its beingcompletely installed by threaded engagement with cap 12. Alternatively,the order in which the caps are screwed on may be reversed.

The device may be assembled such that each of the caps 11, 12 areengaged to respective bottles 1, 2 to form a system for transferringfluid between the bottles 1, 2. The system may be disposed in a verticalorientation. In the vertical orientation, the receiving bottle 1 may bedisposed in an upright position, and the residue-containing bottle 2 maybe inverted above the receiving bottle 1 with the transfer device 10disposed between the bottles 1, 2.

FIGS. 4-6 may depict another exemplary embodiment 20 of a transferdevice. The transfer device 20 may comprise a pair of screw-on caps 21,22. Each of the caps 21, 22 may have a cylindrical body defining aninterior channel and an interior surface upon which a respective threadset is disposed. Each of the caps 21, 22 may further have an openingconfigured to receive a portion of a bottle at one end of thecylindrical body and a top portion disposed at the opposite end of thecylindrical body. The top portion of each cap 21, 22 may have a boredefined therethrough such that a hollow shaft 23 having an internallumen may be slip-fitted through the bores in top portions of the firstand second caps 21, 22 prior to assembly. The internal surface of thetop portion of each cap 21, 22 may define a generally circular rim-likeprojection 27, 28. Each rim-like projection 27, 28 may surround the boreof the respective cap 21, 22. The shaft 23 may be fabricated of a shortpiece of ½ inch polyethylene tubing or the like. As shown in exemplaryFIG. 6, the shaft 23 may have flared end portions 24, 25 wherein theflared end portions 24, 25 may have a diameter greater than a diameterof a middle portion of the shaft 23.

FIG. 6 can depict a cross-section of the exemplary transfer device 20 ofFIGS. 4 and 5. During installation, the cap 21 may be screwed onto abottle 1 having an interior chamber, a mouth in fluid communication withthe interior chamber, and an external thread surrounding the mouth. Asthe cap 21 is screwed over the external thread of the bottle 1, a firstflared end portion 24 of the shaft 23 may be compressed between therim-like projection 27 on the cap 21 and the leading edge of the mouthof the bottle 1. When the flared end portion 24 of the hollow shaft 23is so compressed, a substantially leak-tight joint may be formed betweenthe interior of the bottle 1, the interior channel of the first cap 21,and the internal lumen of the hollow shaft 23.

The cap 22 may then be screwed onto a bottle 2 (not shown) having aninterior chamber, a mouth in fluid communication with the interiorchamber, and an external thread surrounding the mouth. As the cap 22 isscrewed over the external thread of the bottle 2, a second flared endportion 25 of the shaft 23 may be compressed between the rim-likeprojection 28 on the cap 22 and the leading edge of the mouth of thebottle 2. When the second flared end portion 25 of the hollow shaft 23is so compressed, a substantially leak-tight joint may be formed betweenthe interior of the bottle 2, the interior channel of the first cap 22,and the internal lumen of the hollow shaft 23.

Once the ends of the shaft 23 have been so compressed, seals which areadequate for preventing the leakage of a highly viscous fluid at thejunctures between the shaft and the caps 21, 22 may be formed. In thisconfiguration, a substantially leak-tight connection may be formedbetween the first bottle 1, the channel of the first cap 21, the lumenof the hollow shaft 23, the channel of the second cap 22, and the secondbottle 2. Because the shaft 23 may be present in the device 20, the caps21, 22 may be free to rotate independently of each other andindependently of the shaft 23. As a consequence, after cap 21 has beenscrewed onto bottle 1, cap 22 can then be screwed onto bottle 2 withouta user having to rotate the latter bottle. This configuration maythereby expedite the installation process.

A spacer member 26 may be provided between the caps 21, 22 to facilitatevertical alignment and independent rotation of the caps 21, 22. Thespacer member may have a central bore disposed coaxially with the boresof the caps 21, 22. Accordingly, the hollow shaft 23 may extend from thechannel in the first cap, through the bore in the top portion of thefirst cap, through the bore in the spacer member 26, through the bore inthe top portion of the second cap 22, and finally into the channel inthe second cap. The spacer member 26 may be rotationally fixed to thehollow shaft 23. In this embodiment, the first bottle 1, the secondbottle 2, the first cap 21, the second cap 22, and the hollow shaft 23may all be independently rotatable relative to one another. In analternate embodiment, the spacer 26 may be free to rotate independentlyfrom the hollow shaft 23. So configured, the first bottle 1, the secondbottle 2, the first cap 21, the second cap 22, the hollow shaft 23 andthe spacer member 26 may all be independently rotatable relative to oneanother. Allowing the caps and other components to rotate freely mayfacilitate installation of the device onto the first and second bottles1, 2.

A vent (not shown) may be provided in a side wall along the cylindricalbody of one or both of the caps 21, 22. Prior to installation of therespective cap 21, 22 onto a bottle, the vent may fluidly connect withthe channel of the respective cap 21, 22. When the cap 21 is engagedwith a bottle 1 such that the flared end of the hollow shaft 23 isengaged between the rim-like projection of the respective cap 21, 22 andthe edge of the mouth tip of the respective bottle 1, 2, thesubstantially leak-tight joint between the bottle 1, 2, the cap channel,and the lumen of hollow shaft 23 may prevent the vent from fluidlyconnecting with internal chamber of the bottle 1, 2 and the lumen of thehollow shaft 23. In other words, the connection between the bottle 1 andthe lumen of the hollow shaft 23 may be substantially sealed and may notfluidly connect with the vent. Providing one or more vents may allow airdisposed in the threads of the caps 21, 22 and the bottles 1, 2 to bereleased, thereby facilitating engagement of the respective threads.

The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate theprinciples, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of theinvention. However, the invention should not be construed as beinglimited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additionalvariations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded asillustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should beappreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for transferring a fluid comprising: afirst cap having a first internal thread and a first channel extendingthrough the first cap; a second cap having a second internal thread anda second channel extending through the second cap; wherein the first capand the second cap are coupled to one another, and the first channel isfluidly connected with the second channel.
 2. The device of claim 1,wherein the first cap has a first top portion and a first bore extendingtherethrough, the second cap has a second top portion and a second boreextending therethrough, and the first and second bores provide fluidcommunication between the first channel and the second channel.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2, wherein the first and second caps are weldedtogether.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the first and second capsare glued together.
 5. The device of claim 2, wherein the first andsecond caps are formed integrally as a single, unitary piece.
 6. Thedevice of claim 2, wherein a hollow shaft having an axial lumen isdisposed such that it extends from the first channel through the firstand second bores into the second channel.
 7. The device of claim 6,wherein the hollow shaft has a first flared end portion, and the firstflared end portion is disposed within the first channel such that thefirst flared end portion is configured to be compressed between aninternal surface of the first top portion and a surface of a firstbottle that engages the first internal thread, thereby providing asubstantially leak-tight joint between the first channel and the lumenof the hollow shaft.
 8. The device of claim 7, wherein the internalsurface of the first top portion comprises a generally circular firstrim-like projection.
 9. The device of claim 7, wherein the hollow shafthas a second flared end portion, and the second flared end portion isdisposed within the second channel such that the second flared endportion is configured to be compressed between an internal surface ofthe second top portion and a surface of a second bottle that engages thesecond internal thread, thereby providing a substantially leak-tightjoint between the second channel and the lumen of the hollow shaft. 10.The device of claim 8, wherein the internal surface of the second topportion comprises a generally circular second rim-like projection. 11.The device of claim 6, wherein each of the first cap member, the secondcap member and the hollow shaft are configured to rotate independentlyof one-another.
 12. The device of claim 6, further comprising a spacer,wherein the spacer comprises a spacer bore that is coaxial with thefirst bore and the second bore, and the hollow shaft extends through thespacer bore.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein each of the first capmember, the second cap member, and the spacer are configured to rotateindependently of one another.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein thespacer is rotationally fixed to the hollow shaft.
 16. The device ofclaim 7, wherein the first cap member comprises an air vent disposed ona side-wall thereof, and the device is configured such that when thefirst cap member is engaged to a first bottle, the first bottle is notin fluid communication with the air vent.
 17. A system for transferringfluid from a first bottle to a second bottle comprising: a first caphaving an first internal thread and a first channel extending throughthe first cap; a second cap having an second internal thread and asecond channel extending through the second cap; a first bottle having afirst interior chamber; a second bottle having a second interiorchamber; wherein the first cap and the second cap are coupled to oneanother, and the first channel is fluidly connected with the secondchannel.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first cap has a firsttop portion and a first bore extending therethrough, the second cap hasa second top portion and a second bore extending therethrough, and thefirst and second bores provide fluid communication between the firstchannel and the second channel, and the system further comprises ahollow shaft having an axial lumen is disposed such that it extends fromthe first channel through the first and second bores into the secondchannel.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first bottle has afirst mouth tip surface, and the first cap is threaded onto the firstbottle such that the first flared end portion of the hollow shaft iscompressed between the first mouth tip surface and an interior surfaceof the first top portion such that a substantially leak-tight joint isformed between the first interior chamber, the first channel, and thelumen of the hollow shaft; and wherein the second bottle has a secondmouth tip surface, and the second cap is threaded onto the second bottlesuch that the second flared end portion of the hollow shaft iscompressed between the second mouth tip surface and an interior surfaceof the second top portion such that a substantially leak-tight joint isformed between the second interior chamber, the second channel, and thelumen of the hollow shaft.
 20. The system of claim 19, furthercomprising a spacer, wherein the spacer comprises a spacer bore that iscoaxial with the first bore and the second bore, and the hollow shaftextends through the spacer bore; wherein the spacer is rotationallyfixed to the hollow shaft; and wherein each of the first cap, the secondcap, the hollow shaft, the first bottle, and the second bottle areconfigured to rotate independently of one-another.